YOUTH EXCHANGE

If you would like to be a sponsor of the program please call 312-857-6450.

Today’s Youth are Tomorrow's Rotarians & World Leaders

Each year RI District 6450 students are among the 7,000 Rotary Youth Exchange participants who live and study abroad for an academic year. Being involved in Youth Exchange promotes the understanding and appreciation of the people and languages of the world.

As a former Rotary Exchange Student I can personally attest that no other year has made such a difference in my life. Rotary Youth Exchange makes great strides to promoting peace and understanding world-wide. I could not agree more with Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammer, President Rotary International, 2005-2006: “My Dream is for every 17-year-old to become a Youth Exchange student. If we could achieve this, there would be no more wars.”

District 6450 belongs to Central States Rotary Youth Exchange (CSRYE) which covers 18 Rotary Districts in the Midwest and Ontario, Canada. We only sponsor the Long-term Youth Exchange Program which involves spending 10-11 months in another country. To be eligible participants must be between the ages of 15 ½ and 18 ½ by August 15th of the start of their exchange year and in the upper 50% of their high school class or have a 2.5 or better GPA. It is possible to participate after completing high school as long as they meet the age requirement.

Students live in the homes of 1 to 3 host families during their year abroad. For more complete details including the application and country list, please go to the Central States Rotary Youth Exchange website at www.csrye.org.